On June 29 and 30, 2024, the Bulgarian capital hosted the election and enthronement of the new Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, the successor of the ever—memorable Patriarch Neophyte, who passed away to the Lord on March 13 of this year.
According to the results of the voting, which took place in two rounds, the participants of the Patriarchal Electoral Church Council gave the majority of votes to Metropolitan Daniel of Vidin.
After the announcement of the voting results, the newly elected Primate, accompanied by members of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, led a litany procession from the Synodal Chamber, where the meeting of the electoral Council was held, to the Alexander Nevsky Patriarchal Cathedral under the solemn ringing of bells. Representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches, who had arrived at the invitation of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Church, were waiting for His Holiness there.
The Act of Election was announced in the cathedral, after which Metropolitan Daniel was awarded the signs of Patriarchal dignity and the enthronement of the new Patriarch of Bulgaria was performed.
With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the Russian Orthodox Church was represented at the enthronement in Sofia by the Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe, Metropolitan Nestor of Korsun and Western Europe. The rector of the Russian Orthodox Church in Sofia, Archpriest Vladimir Tyschuk, was also present at the church, the website of the Korsun diocese reports.
On the same day, a solemn dinner was given in Sofia on behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria, at which the newly elected Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church received congratulations from the Primates and representatives of the Orthodox Local Churches.
The welcoming message of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia was read out by Metropolitan Nestor of Korsun and Western Europe.